Patched Drinking Water Bag

ABSTRACT

A system and method for pull-off sanitation patches for bagged water dispersion systems.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/095,459, filed Sep. 9, 2008, the entire disclosure of whichis herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This disclosure relates to the field of sanitation devices and/ormethods for water dispersion systems. In particular, to the field ofpull-off sanitation patches for bagged water dispersion systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

A pathogen is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to itshost. While there are several substrates and pathways whereby pathogenscan invade a host, human consumption of contaminated drinking water is acommon pathway whereby pathogenic microorganisms are directlytransmitted to a human host.

While the occurrence of waterborne diseases in developed countries isgenerally low due to a good system of water treatment, distribution andmonitoring, waterborne diseases are among the leading causes ofmorbidity in low and middle income countries, commonly referred to asdeveloping countries. Further, waterborne diseases can even become aproblem for developed countries with advanced water treatment systems inthe wake of natural or humanitarian disasters (such as tornados,hurricanes, earthquakes, war, etc.) when such water treatment systemsare destroyed or rendered unusable.

While many pollutants threaten water supplies, the most widespread,especially in underdeveloped countries, is the discharge of raw sewageinto natural waters. This method of sewage disposal is most common inunderdeveloped countries, but is also prevalent in quasi-developedcountries such as China, India, and Iran.

Sanitation is the hygienic means of preventing human contact from thehazards of wastes and pathogenic organisms to promote health. There aremany known forms of sanitation. In fact, hygienic means of sanitationand prevention can be by using engineering solutions (e.g., sewerage andwastewater treatment), simple technologies (e.g., latrines, septictanks), or even by personal hygiene practices (e.g., simple handwashingwith soap). Despite known methods of sanitation, it is estimated that upto 5 million people die each year from preventable waterborne diseasesas a result of inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices.

Sanitation of potable water sources is a serious problem in developingcountries, where sewage disposal into water sources is quite common, andin westernized countries in the wake of natural disasters when an area'sinfrastructure has been significantly damaged or rendered unusable.

In these situations, emergency water distribution systems are utilizedto deliver safe potable drinking water to emergency situations and areasin the developing world that lack adequate and reliable potable watersupplies. While the water transmitted to at-risk populations viaemergency water distribution systems is safe for human consumption,there is a significant risk that the emergency water source itself canbecome contaminated when the water is being dispersed to individuals.

For example, bagged water dispersion systems, due to their inherenttransportability and ease to distribute, are a commonly used modalityfor emergency water distribution to at-risk populations. Usually, thewater in such bagged water dispersion systems is accessed via puncturingthe bag with a spigot-type device. Once punctured, individuals utilizethe spigot to obtain potable water from the bag. U.S. Provisional PatentApplications, Ser. Nos. 61/085,234 and 61/092,536, the entiredisclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference, provide someexemplary embodiments of such water dispensing devices and methods.

Although a puncturing/spigot method reduces contamination of water froma device for accessing the water whereby the water is open to the airand human contact, there is still a risk for contamination in thepuncturing/spigot method at the time of puncturing.

As emergency bagged water is usually transported long distances, throughmany points of human contact before it reaches the at-risk populationsor disaster area; it is not unusual for the bagged water to come incontact with a number of different human pathogens during transport.

For example, in situations where there has been a natural disaster, suchas a hurricane, tornado, tsunami, flood, earthquake, or other form ofnatural disaster that has historically caused great damage both in termsof loss of human life and destruction of human communities, there isgenerally vast destruction of a given community's establishedinfrastructural system. In such situations, it is common for there to besewage contamination of the community's regular potable water supply dueto destruction of sanitation plants and bursting pipes, among othermeans. Further, roadways, mass transit systems and other forms oftransportation are usually rendered unusable. Accordingly, transport ofemergency supplies, such as potable bagged water, must be accomplishedin this environment where there is rampant contamination of existingwater supplies and few transportation options. As such, prior toreaching its end destination, potable bagged water being transported tothese areas is usually handled by a number of different individuals (whodo not have access to potable water to clean and sanitize their hands)and multiple different transport vehicles including ATVs, trucks andairplane carriers. Further, during transport it is not unlikely for thepotable bagged water to come in contact with mud, dirt, unsanitizedwater and other natural elements that could be carriers of pathogens.There are similar concerns of exposure to contaminants when transportingbagged water to at-risk populations in the wake of human disasters, suchas war zones, refugee camps, etc.

Exposure to pathogens is also a concern when transporting bagged waterin developing countries to areas that might not have a viable andreliable potable water source. In these situations, it is not uncommonfor emergency supplies to be transported by more rudimentary/indigenousmethods. Such methods include, but are not limited to, transportation bypack animal, cart, or human carrier. Similar to transport of emergencysupplies in the wake of a natural disaster, transport of emergencysupplies under such circumstances could expose the surface of the baggedwater to mud, contaminated water, and any contaminants on the humanhands or pack animals which transport the bags.

The aforementioned exposure to pathogens during transport can result insuch pathogens, dirt or other particulate adhering to or being locatedon the surface of the bagged water system. These surface pathogens andother contaminants can become a problem at the time of puncturing asfollows.

At the time of puncturing, the spiked tip/grommet is spiked or thrustthrough the surface of the bag at a particular point. Due to thethrusting force of the spike/grommet, the surface of the bag at thepoint of puncturing is perforated and may be forced into the bag, andthus into contact with the potable water supply stored in said bag.Accordingly, there is a risk of any contaminating agents that may belocated on the surface of the bag at the point of puncturing getting“thrust” into contact with the potable water stored inside the bag atthe time of puncturing.

To prevent this contamination, it is common for a user to wipe off andsanitize the portion of the bag that will be punctured prior to the actof puncturing to clean the surface area the bag of all potentialpathogens and to reduce the risk of any water contamination at the timeof puncturing. This form of sanitation however requires a sanitary watersource, antiseptic wipe, soap, or other sanitizing supplies that areusually not readily available in the wake of a natural disaster or incertain areas of the developing world; areas where a bagged waterdispersion system is likely to be used. In addition, these additionalsanitation supplies add to the cost of the bagged water dispersionsystem, which is especially an issue in the developing world where thecommunities and aid organizations are often under economic strain.

Further, this form of “wiping-off” or cleansing sanitation is notfoolproof and is susceptible to common human errors such as failure touse a strong enough sanitizer and failure to remove all contaminantsfrom the surface of the bag at the point of puncturing, among others.Considering the fact that such bagged emergency water dispersion systemsare utilized in emergency situations were resources are scarce, stresscan be high and speed can be important, the risk of human error inimproperly sanitizing a bagged water source prior to puncturing is quitehigh.

Accordingly, there is a need for a simpler and more robust form ofsanitation for emergency bagged water systems of sanitation that reducesif not eliminates the human error factor of the present forms ofsanitation and decreases the risk of contamination of the bagged watersupply at the time of puncturing.

SUMMARY

The following is a summary of the invention in order to provide a basicunderstanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is notintended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of this sectionis to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

Because of these and other problems in the art, described herein are,among other things, a method for the sanitation of potable bagged fluiddispersion systems, comprising the steps of: (1) attaching a patch tothe exterior surface area of a bag of potable fluid at a point ofattachment sanitized for contaminants; (2) removing the patch from thebag; and puncturing the bag at a sanitized point of attachment with apuncturing/spigot device; wherein the attachment of the patch preventsmost contaminants from adhering to the bag at a point of puncturing andentering the bag at the step of puncturing.

In one embodiment of this method, the patch is attached to the bag atthe time of manufacturing.

In another embodiment of this method, the patch is attached to the bagin a sanitary environment.

In yet another embodiment of this method, the patch is attached to thebag via an adhesive; and the adhesive forms a tight seal between thepatch and the bag to generally inhibit any contaminants from coming intocontact with the surface area of said bag that the patch covers once thepatch is attached to the bag. This adhesive can be either natural orsynthetic.

In another embodiment of this method, a pathogenic killing substance islocated on a lower surface of said patch.

In still yet another embodiment of this method, the patch is made of amaterial from the group consisting of: plastics, elastics, paper, wovenfabric, or combinations thereof.

It is also contemplated, in one embodiment of this method, that thepatch will cover the entire surface area of one side of said bag.

In still another embodiment of this method, it is contemplated that thepatch contains an easily graspable point; wherein the easily graspablepoint makes it easier for a user to grasp the patch and remove it fromthe bag during the step of removing.

In another embodiment, the patch is comprised of two or more pieces;wherein the patch is removed in the step of removing by pulling said twoor more pieces in separate directions.

In another embodiment of this method, it is contemplated that thepuncturing/spigot device is attached to the patch. Further, a potablefluid additive could also be attached to the patch.

In another embodiment of this method, the patch is comprised of at leasttwo layers, wherein a bottom layer is attached to the bag via apermanent adhesive and an upper layer is attached to the bottom layervia a method of temporary attachment; wherein at said step of removingthe upper layer of the patch is removed, revealing the bottom layer ofthe patch and the bag is punctured at the bottom layer at the step ofpuncturing. This method of temporary attachment, in one embodiment, is aperforated area on the upper layer. In another embodiment of thismethod, there is a pathogenic killing substance located between thebottom and the upper layer. In still yet another embodiment, there aremarkings on the bottom layer of the patch to designate a point ofpuncturing at the step of puncturing.

Also disclosed herein is a system for providing a sanitizedtransportable potable fluid, comprising: a bag of potable fluid; apatch; and a puncturing/spigot device; wherein a user removes the patchfrom the bag; wherein once the patch is removed, the user punctures thebag with the puncturing/spigot device at a surface area of the bag thatwas previously covered by the patch and dispenses fluid therefrom; andwherein the patch generally prevents contaminants from attaching to thesurface area of the bag covered by the patch such that the probabilityof contaminants coming into contact with the potable fluid in the bagwhen the user punctures the bag are diminished.

Further, disclosed herein is a method of providing potable fluid inemergency situations and to at-risk populations comprising: transportinga patched bag of potable fluid and a puncturing/spigot device to therequired emergency site; removing the patch from a surface area of thebag of potable fluid; puncturing the bag of potable fluid at the surfacearea that was previously covered by the patch with the puncturing/spigotdevice; and dispensing fluid therefrom; wherein the patch generallyprevents contaminants from attaching to the surface area of the bagcovered by the patch such that the probability of contaminants cominginto contact with the potable fluid in the bag when the user puncturesthe bag are diminished

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the patched waterbag.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a user grasping thegrasping portion of the patch to remove said patch from the water bag.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a user puncturingthe patched water bag with the spigot dispensing device at the sanitizedpoint of puncturing after the patch has been removed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The following detailed description illustrates by way of example and notby way of limitation. Described herein, among other things, is a systemof assisting with the sanitation of the potable water supply of a baggedwater system (such as one used in an emergency) via a patch that isaffixed to the bag that generally prevents most contaminants fromadhering to the bag at the proposed point of puncturing. The patch canbe affixed to the bag at the proposed point of puncturing or may beaffixed to encapsulate and protect a larger surface area of the bag.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the patched drinking bag (89). In thisembodiment, the patch (45) is attached to the bag (116) at the time ofmanufacturing. The patch (45) can be attached to the bag (116) eitherbefore or after the water has been placed into the bag (116) and the bag(116) has been hermetically sealed. This application also contemplatesattachment of the patch (45) to the bag (116) after the time ofmanufacturing, any time prior to when the bag (116) is transported to anat-risk area, or any time a person skilled in the art would recognize asan opportune time to attach the patch (45).

In an embodiment, the patch is attached to the bag (116) in a generallysanitary environment and the bag (116) is generally sanitized for allpotential pathogens and other contaminants prior to attachment.Sanitation, sanitary, and sanitized, for the purposes of thisapplication, mean the removal of most of the harmful pathogens or otherdisease causing agents on the surface of the bag (116), therebysignificantly limiting the risk of contamination to the potable watersource inside the bag (116) that could occur at the time of puncturing.The use of such terms is not intended to imply that the surface has allsuch potential pathogens removed or even that the area is sanitized to amedically “safe” level. Attachment of the patch (45) to the bag (116) insuch a setting however is not required, and this applicationcontemplates attachment of the patch (45) to the bag (116) at any timeand in any setting, so long as the point of attachment is generallysanitized for pathogens or other contaminants.

In an embodiment, the patch (45) is attached to the bag via an adhesivemethod known to those skilled in the art. The adhesive functions to forma tight seal in between the patch (45) and the bag (116), inhibiting anycontaminants from coming in contact with the surface area of the bag(116) that the patch (45) covers once the patch (45) is attached to thebag (116). In an embodiment, this adhesive can be either natural orsynthetic. However, any adhesive known now or in the future to those ofskill in the art that could function to form a tight seal between thepatch (45) and the bag (116) while inhibiting any contaminants fromcoming into contact with the surface area of the bag (116) that thepatch (45) covers is contemplated.

In an embodiment, the adhesive is temporary such that when a pullingforce is exerted on the corner of the patch (15), the patch (45) can beeasily pulled off of the surface of the bag (116) without harming saidsurface.

In another embodiment, the adhesive is permanent. In this embodiment,the patch (45) is comprised of two or more layers. The bottom layer ispermanently attached to the bag (116) via the permanent adhesive. Thesecond layer is attached to the first layer via a temporary adhesive orother method of temporary attachment known to those skilled in the art.The second layer of the patch (45) can be either the same size or shapeas the first layer of the patch (45), or larger or smaller in size.

At the time the bag (116) needs to be punctured, the second layer of thepatch (45) is grasped by a user and pulled away from the bag, revealingthe generally sanitary first layer of the patch (45).

In another embodiment of the multi-layer patch (45), the first layer isattached to the bag (116) by a method of attachment known to thoseskilled in the art. Further, the second layer is attached to the firstlayer via a permanent or temporary adhesive, or other method ofattachment known to those skilled in the art. In such an embodiment,there is a perforated area on the second layer of the patch (45). Thisapplication contemplates a perforated area of any given shape or size.At the time of puncturing, a user would grasp the edge of the perforatedarea of the second layer of the patch (45) and pull, causing the secondlayer to tear along the path designated by the perforation such that aportion of the second layer of the patch (45) is removed, revealing thefirst generally sanitary layer of the patch (45).

In an embodiment, the patch (45) can be made of any material known tothose skilled in the art for making a patch (45). Such materialsinclude, but are not limited to, plastics, elastics, paper, wovenfabric, or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment as seen in FIG. 1, the patch (45) is generally arectangular or square shape smaller than the surface of the bag (116),but larger than the space taken up by the spiked puncturing/spigotdevice (52) after said spiked puncturing/spigot device (52) haspunctured the bag (116). This shape and size however is not exclusiveand this application contemplates any size or shape patch (45) that cancover a given surface area of the bag (116) needed for puncturing toprotect said area from possible contaminants. For example, in anotherembodiment of the patch (45) it is contemplated that the patch (45) willcover the entire surface area of one side of the bag (116). It is alsocontemplated that more than one patch (45) may be used conjointly on thesurface area of the bag. It is contemplated that these patches (45) canbe placed anywhere on the surface area of the bag (116). The patches(45) can be adjacent to each other, overlap, be located on oppositesides of the bag (116) or arranged in any manner known to those of skillin the art for arranging patches (45) on a bag (116).

In an embodiment, the lower surface of the patch (45) is covered with ananti-bacterial or some other form of sanitizing and pathogenic killingsubstance. In an embodiment of the multi-layered patch (45), theanti-bacterial and pathogenic killing substance is located between eachlayer of the patch (45) and serves to reduce the presence of pathogensin the area under the patch (45).

In another embodiment of the patch (45), the patch (45) contains aneasily graspable point (15), such that it is easier for a user to graspthe patch (45) and remove it from the bag (116) with little effort atthe time of puncturing. FIG. 2 shows a user grasping the graspable point(15) of the patch (45), and pulling said graspable point (15) away fromthe surface of the bag (116) to expose the generally sanitized point ofpuncturing (454). This easily graspable point (15) can be any easilygraspable point known to those skilled in the art, including but notlimited to an upturned corner of the patch (45), an o-ring oralternatively shaped grasping device that rises above the patch (45),and/or a raised area of the patch (45) that can be easily grasped by auser.

While in FIG. 1 the patch (45) is a singular piece, in other embodimentsthe patch (45), or the layers of the patch (45) in the multi-layeredpatch (45), can be in two or more pieces. In this embodiment, the two ormore pieces of the patch (45) can be removed by a user at the time ofpuncturing by pulling the two or more pieces in separate directions,removing the patch (45) to reveal the generally sanitized portion of thebag (116) for puncturing (454).

In yet another embodiment of the patch (45), there are markings on thegenerally sanitized layer of the patch (45) to designate the point ofpuncturing (454) to a user. These markings only further reduce thepotential for human error at the time of puncturing, as they direct auser to the specific place where the bag (116) should be punctured, aplace which is generally sanitized due to the patch (45) and has reducedrisk of contamination if the bag (116) punctured there.

In another embodiment of the patch (45), it is contemplated that adevice for puncturing the bag (116), known to those of skill in the artwill be encapsulated within or attached to the patch (45). For example,in one such embodiment, the patch (45) will comprise a multi-layer patch(45). The upper layer of this multi-layer patch (45) will be comprisedof a vacuum-sealed pouch. Inside the vacuum-sealed pouch will be aspiked fluid dispensing device known to those of skill in the art. Assuch, a user will have easy access to the fluid dispensing device.

In another embodiment of the patch (45), it is contemplated that anutritional supplement, drink mix, or other potable water additive willbe encapsulated within or attached to the patch (45). For example, inone embodiment, the patch (45) will comprise a multi-layer patch (45).The upper layer of this multi-layer patch (45) will be comprised of apouch or other packaged area known to those of skill in the art. Thereinwill be located a nutritional drink supplement. In this embodiment,after the patch (45) has been removed and the fluid therein distributed,the nutritional supplement located within the upper layer of the patch(45) can be added to each individual serving of fluid post-dispersion.

In other embodiments, it is contemplated that any tool, supplement ordevice known to those of skill in the art to be used in emergencysituations where the potable emergency water systems described hereinwould be utilized is contemplated as being encapsulated within orattached to the patch (45) in various embodiments. Furthermore, it iscontemplated that more than one tool, supplement or device may beattached to the bag (116) via a patch (45) at one time. For example, inone embodiment, it is contemplated that both a nutritional supplementand a spiked fluid dispensing device will be attached to the bag (116)via a patch (45).

At the time of puncturing, the patched water bag (89) is utilized asfollows. In a first step, the patched water bag (89) is transported toan at-risk area. Needing to access the water, a user obtains thepuncturing/spigot device (52) that will be utilized to puncture thepatched water bag (89). In an embodiment of the patched water bag (89),it is contemplated that the puncturing/spigot device (52) is attached tothe outside of the patch (45). This attachment can be by an adhesive,via a pocket or pouch, hook and loop fastener or any other method ofattachment known to those skilled in the art. This attachment of thepuncturing/spigot device (52) prevents the puncturing/spigot device (52)from being lost and/or misplaced in the panic of the emergencysituation, i.e., a user is ensured of receiving all of the componentsneeded to dispense the potable water stored inside the bag (116). Thedevice (52) can also be maintained in a generally sanitary condition byproviding it within a sealed pouch or similar type of carrying device.Alternatively, the patch (45) itself may hold the device (52) to the bag(89) in the generally sanitized area (454) so that the device (52) isalso maintained simultaneously in a generally sanitized condition foruse. The removal of the patch (45) in this situation will also free thedevice (52) and make it accessible for the puncturing of the bag (89).

The user will hold the patched water bag (89) with one hand, attach thepatched water bag (89) to a hanging place of attachment or otherwiseposition the bag (89) for puncturing. Then the user will grasp thegrasping portion (15) of the patch (45) and remove the upper layer ofthe patch (45) (or the patch (45) as a whole depending on embodiment) byexerting a pulling force on the grasping portion (15) of the upper layerof the patch (45), pulling the upper layer of the patch (45) away fromsaid bag (116). FIG. 2 shows a user grasping the grasping portion (15)to remove the patch (45) from the surface of the bag (116).

Once the patch (45) is removed, the user will immediately puncture thebag (116) with the puncturing/spigot device (52) on the newly exposedgenerally sanitized portion of the bag (454) that was previously coveredby the patch (45). FIG. 3 shows a user puncturing the bag (116) at thegenerally sanitized point of puncturing (454) with the puncturing/spigotdevice (52) after removal of the patch (45) from the surface of the bag(116).

The user will then distribute the potable water via thepuncturing/spigot dispensing device (52) that was utilized to puncturethe bag (116).

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, this should not be taken as a limitation to allof the provided details. Modifications and variations of the describedembodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, and other embodiments should be understood to beencompassed in the present disclosure as would be understood by those ofordinary skill in the art.

1. A method for the sanitation of potable bagged fluid dispersionsystems, comprising the steps of: attaching a patch to the exteriorsurface area of a bag of potable fluid at a point of attachmentsanitized for contaminants; removing said patch from said bag ; andpuncturing said bag at said sanitized point of attachment with apuncturing/spigot device; wherein the attachment of said patch preventsmost contaminants from adhering to said bag at a point of puncturing andentering said bag at said step of puncturing.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein said patch is attached to said bag at the time of manufacturing.3. The method of claim 1, wherein said patch is attached to said bag ina sanitary environment.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said patch isattached to said bag via an adhesive; wherein said adhesive forms atight seal between said patch and said bag to generally inhibit anycontaminants from coming into contact with said surface area of said bagthat said patch covers once said patch is attached to said bag.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein said adhesive is natural.
 6. The method ofclaim 4, wherein said adhesive is synthetic.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein said patch is comprised of at least two layers, wherein a bottomlayer is attached to said bag via a permanent adhesive and an upperlayer is attached to said bottom layer via a method of temporaryattachment; wherein at said step of removing said upper layer of saidpatch is removed, revealing said bottom layer of said patch and said bagis punctured at said bottom layer at said step of puncturing.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein said method of temporary attachment is aperforated area on said upper layer.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein apathogenic killing substance is located between said bottom and saidupper layer.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein there are markings onsaid bottom layer of said patch to designate a point of puncturing atsaid step of puncturing.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein a pathogenickilling substance is located on a lower surface of said patch.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said patch is made of a material from thegroup consisting of: plastics, elastics, paper, woven fabric, orcombinations thereof.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said patchcovers the entire surface area of one side of said bag.
 14. The methodof claim 1, wherein said patch contains an easily graspable point;wherein said easily graspable point makes it easier for a user to graspsaid patch and remove it from said bag during said step of removing. 15.The method of claim 1, wherein said patch is comprised of two or morepieces; wherein said patch is removed in said step of removing bypulling said two or more pieces in separate directions.
 16. The methodof claim 1, wherein said puncturing/spigot device is attached to saidpatch.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein a potable fluid additive isattached to said patch.
 18. A system for providing a sanitizedtransportable potable fluid, comprising: a bag of potable fluid; apatch; and a puncturing/spigot device; wherein a user removes said patchfrom said bag; wherein once said patch is removed, said user puncturessaid bag with said puncturing/spigot device at a surface area of saidbag that was previously covered by said patch and dispenses fluidtherefrom; and wherein said patch generally prevents contaminants fromattaching to said surface area of said bag covered by said patch suchthat the probability of contaminants coming into contact with saidpotable fluid in said bag when said user punctures said bag arediminished.
 19. A method of providing potable fluid in emergencysituations and to at-risk populations comprising: transporting a patchedbag of potable fluid and a puncturing/spigot device to the requiredemergency site; removing said patch from a surface area of said bag ofpotable fluid; puncturing said bag of potable fluid at said surface areathat was previously covered by said patch with said puncturing/spigotdevice; and dispensing fluid therefrom; wherein said patch generallyprevents contaminants from attaching to the surface area of said bagcovered by said patch such that the probability of contaminants cominginto contact with said potable fluid in said bag when said userpunctures said bag are diminished.